Asia Foundation Releases 2012 Survey of the Afghan People

KABUL, Afghanistan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Asia Foundation today released Afghanistan
in 2012: A Survey of the Afghan People, its eighth annual survey
of Afghan citizens across all 34 provinces. In June 2012, a team of
Afghan pollsters—both men and women—fanned out across the country to
gather first-hand opinions from nearly 6,300 Afghan citizens on a wide
range of topics that are critical to the future of Afghanistan. The
broadest and most comprehensive public opinion poll in the country
reveals that public optimism about the overall direction of Afghanistan
is up from previous years: just over half of Afghans think the country
is moving in the right direction (52%), an increase from 2011 (46%) and
2010 (44%). Support for the government’s peace and reconciliation
remains very high (81%).

“Security continues to be the biggest indicator of both optimism and
pessimism for Afghans”

As the 2014 deadline nears for the transition of national security from
NATO forces to Afghan control, The Asia Foundation survey reveals
useful, policy-relevant information about Afghan public opinion on
government performance, public policy, politics and political processes,
and development progress. The 2012 survey report was written by a team
of six Afghan researchers and social science experts who are
particularly well positioned to analyze the data, identify trends, and
offer key insights on Afghanistan’s development.

“Security continues to be the biggest indicator of both optimism and
pessimism for Afghans,” said Abdullah
Ahmadzai, The Asia Foundation Deputy Country Representative,
Afghanistan. “But it is clear that life goes on as Afghans express
deep-seated concerns for jobs, education, public services, political
participation, and a better life. This survey helps to give us a sense
of citizens’ priorities, needs, and views.” Ahmadzai continued: “We hope
these findings help bridge the gap in understanding between the
international community, the Afghan government, and local
communities—dialogue necessary for Afghanistan’s long-term prospects.”

Security concerns remain the most significant factor in shaping
Afghans’ assessment of progress in the country. Just over half of
respondents (52%) say Afghanistan is moving in the right direction, up
from 46% in 2011 and 44% in 2010. Among those who are optimistic,
improved security (41%) was the most frequently cited reason, followed
by reconstruction and rebuilding (35%). Likewise, those who are more
pessimistic about the direction of the country most often attribute
their pessimism to concerns about insecurity (39%).

Unemployment is identified as a major problem at both national and
local levels. Respondents cite insecurity (28%), unemployment
(27%), and corruption (25%) as the three biggest problems facing
Afghanistan as a whole; at the local level, more than two thirds (70%)
of respondents say the employment situation in their local area is
quite bad or very bad.

Afghans’ support for peace and reconciliation remains high. A
large majority of respondents (81%) agree with the government’s
national reconciliation and negotiation efforts with the Taliban, with
38% strongly in favor. Although a majority within all ethnic groups
are in favor of the government's reconciliation efforts and
negotiation, a relatively higher number of Pashtuns (85%) and Uzbeks
(84%) are supportive of this endeavor.

Afghans report improvements over the past year in overall household
financial wellbeing and access to schools. Over half of
respondents (53%) reported that their families are more prosperous
today than they were during the Taliban era. Half of all respondents
(50%) say their household financial wellbeing has improved during the
past year, and half (51%) say that access to schools has improved.

Afghans express confidence in local government capacity; cite
limited but growing confidence in central government institutions. In
2012, respondents have slightly more confidence in provincial
government than they do in parliament, the public administration,
municipalities, and government ministers. However, confidence in many
of these central bodies is modestly rising over time. Three quarters
(75%) of respondents give central government performance a positive
assessment, including 15% who say it is doing a very good job and 60%
who say it is doing a somewhat good job.

Development efforts most visible to Afghans are related to
education and reconstruction/building of roads and bridges. More
than half of those surveyed are aware of development projects related
to education (53%) and reconstruction/building of roads and bridges
(50%). Among those who indicated awareness of such development
projects, more than one third (35%) say the United States has provided
the most aid in their local area. Respondents also identified Germany
(9%), Japan (9%), Australia (5%), India (4%), Turkey (3%), and Sweden
(3%).

Afghans agree that women and men should have equal opportunities in
education and employment, but are divided on the issue of women’s
political participation. Nearly nine in 10 respondents (87%) agree
that women and men should have equal educational opportunities,
including 48% who strongly agree. Two thirds of Afghans surveyed say
they think women should be allowed to work outside the home. Almost
one third of respondents (29%) identify lack of education and/or
illiteracy as the biggest problem faced by women.

ABOUT THE SURVEY

Afghanistan
in 2012: A Survey of the Afghan People is the eighth annual
survey conducted by The Asia Foundation in Afghanistan and the broadest
and most comprehensive public opinion poll in the country. A random,
nationally representative sample of 6,290 Afghan citizens were polled
in-person across all 34 provinces between June 17 and July 1, 2012.
Respondents were 18 years and older, residents of Afghanistan, and
divided between men (56%) and women (44%). The survey respondents
included both urban (22%) and rural (77%) households. The survey’s
margin of sampling error is +/- 5.1% at 95% confidence level. The 2012
survey is a product of The Asia Foundation, with support provided by the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), British
Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), and Australian Agency for
International Development (AusAID).

ABOUT THE ASIA FOUNDATION IN AFGHANISTAN

The Asia Foundation began operating in Afghanistan
in 1954 and re-opened its Kabul office in 2002. Since then, the
Foundation has assisted Afghan efforts to rebuild the country and
accelerate development. Programs focus on governance, law, and civil
society, including support for the development of a new constitution and
national voter registration, civic education, and government-media
relations. The Foundation provides long-term support and technical
assistance to key governmental institutions responsible for the
executive branch, parliamentary affairs, agriculture, and sub-national
government. Other programs focus on women’s empowerment and education.

ABOUT THE ASIA FOUNDATION

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization
committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open
Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports Asian initiatives to
improve governance and law, economic development, women's empowerment,
the environment, and regional cooperation. Drawing on nearly 60 years of
experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public
partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges,
and policy research.

With 17 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, DC, and its
headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on
both a country and regional level. In 2011, the Foundation provided more
than $97 million in program support and distributed nearly one million
books and journals valued at over $41 million.

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